Acharya Satyendra Das,chief priest of the makeshift Ram Janmabhumi temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya,Sunday alleged that VHPs 84-kosi parikrama yatra from here was politically motivated and not religious and that saints were being used for vested interests

Acharya Satyendra Das,chief priest of the makeshift Ram Janmabhumi temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya,Sunday alleged that VHPs 84-kosi parikrama yatra from here was politically motivated and not religious and that saints were being used for vested interests.

Das also accused the VHP of going against established Hindu traditions while deciding on the timing of its yatra,a view shared by several local Hindu priests. Some of the priests also felt that if the yatra was allowed to proceed there could be a threat to communal harmony.

According to Hindu rituals,the 84-kosi parikrama is originally held from Chaitra Purnima to Baisakh Navami. It has already been performed by the sadhus. The VHP by its proposed parikrama is trying to start a new tradition which is obviously political and may disturb the communal harmony too, Dev told PTI.

The yatra was foiled in a massive crackdown by Uttar Pradesh authorities though it was symbolically inaugurated.

Citing mythology,Das said Lord Rama had halted his yatra for this period of chaturmaas when he was looking for Sita in the jungles as taking any such yatra during August and December is against Hindu traditions. The VHPs the yatra was to continue till September 13.

The VHP has selected this very period which is against the tenets of religion. As the yatra does not have religious sanctity,sadhus and saints who are devotees of Lord Rama did not come out to take part in it, he said.